ENGLISH BERMUDA TRIANGLE NOTES

MYSTERY OF BERMUDA TRIANGLE

Q A.Why was the Guptas’ house buzzing with activity?

A)The Gupta’s house was buzzing with activity as they were off on a vacation and were doing last minute packing.

Q B. Why did Arnav ring the neighbour’s door bell thrice?

B)  Arnav rang the neighbour’s door bell thrice as he was very impatient.

Q C. What were the three explanations that Arnav offered for the mysterious disappearance of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle?

C) The three explanations that Arnav offered for the mysterious disappearance of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle were: 

·     Flight 19: One of the most famous disappearances was of Flight 19. On December5, 1945, five US Navy Avenger bombers disappeared mysteriously while on a routine training mission. The rescue plane that was sent to search for them did notmake it back either. Six aircraft and the entire crew vanished within a span of a few hours, without a trace.

·     Tudor Star Tiger: This aircraft disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle shortly before it was about to land at the Bermuda airport. This incident occurred in 1948.

·     Marine Sulphur Queen: This 524-foot carrier of molten sulphur started to sail on Feb 2, 1963 from Beaumont, Texas with a crew of 39. It was reported lost after two days.

Q D.What was the explanation given by Arnav’s mother for the Bermuda Triangle?

D)Arnav’s mother gave the following explanation for the Bermuda Triangle:

·     One is that of methane gas. If this natural gas, found deep under the ocean floor bubbles up while a ship is sailing in the ocean, it could sink the ship.

·      Rogue waves and violent weather could be another reason. The area within the Bermuda Triangle experiences high waves, which could sink a ship. The area is also prone to cyclones and hurricanes.

·      Some attribute the phenomenon to magnetic anomalies. Magnetic variations are common phenomena while flying or sailing. But sadly, these can lead to spatial disorientation. In simple words, this refers to losing sense of direction and location.

·      Human error is also one probable reason. No matter how experienced the captain of a ship or the pilot of a plane, mistakes do happen.

·      And Pirates too could be one of the reasons.

COMPREHENSION QUE/ANS

1.  What is the Bermuda Triangle?

The Bermuda Triangle an imaginary triangle in the Atlantic Ocean whose three corners extend from the island of Bermuda to Miami in Florida to San Juan in Puerto Rico.

2.  What has happened in this triangle over the last century? What is the other name of the Bermuda Triangle?

Many aircraft, ships, boats and yachts have mysteriously disappeared in this area without a trace. Devil’s Triangle is the other name of the Bermuda Triangle.

3.  Who was Christopher Columbus? Why did he set out into the Atlantic Ocean in 1492?

Christopher Columbus was the famous Italian explorer. He set out into the Atlantic Ocean in 1492 in hope of finding a new route to India.

4.  What did the legend say about the city of Atlantis?

The legend said that the city of Atlantis was dependent on some energy crystals which were very powerful and  radiated huge amounts of energy that caused navigational instruments to malfunction and led to the destruction of ships and planes.

Charcter Of Dasi in "Dasi the bridegroom"

Character sketch of Dasi in “Dasi the Bridegroom”

R.K Narayan has always emerged as one of the most refined short story writer presenting the realities of life of the people living around. He displays the different facets of ordinary people’s life and shows what it is to be a middle class people and the efforts to make towards establishing the identity. The present story depicts the writer’s concept of a mentally retarded man and his life around normal ordinary people. It is in the context that Narayan’s deep and profound relationship with society analyzed.

“An Astrologer’s Day and other stories”is a collection of short stories written by R.K Narayan. “Dasi the Bridegroom” is one of the story from the book. It is a tragic-comic story of a simple and retarded man who falls prey to the prank of his neighbours is driven to complete madness.

As the title suggests the story surrounds around the protagonist Dasi who is portrayed as an strange fellow with narrow tapering head, bulging eyes and fat neck; below the neck he had muscular body. His speech was not clear. His age ‘might be anything between twenty and fifty.’ Probably he had been a foundling and was brought up the owner of the house where he lived. He served the family in his own way, he drew water from the well, chopped wood and dug the garden. In return he was given food and protection.

‘He never seemed to long for anything or interfere in anybody’s business; never spoke to others except when spoken to, never so much as thought he was being joked at; he treated everyone sincerely… he had no doubt the strength of an ox, but he had also the forbearance of the mother earth.’ But it was not true about other people living in Malgudi. The children , hawkers and passerby always cracked joke on him. He was instrument of fun for them.

The Mantapam was a group of old men who gathered in the front porch of the house. ‘They were ever ready on the look out for some excitement. To them Dasi was a source of great joy’. They always taunt him asking him when his bride will come. Dasi was infused the desire for a beautiful wife and family.

One day a film star from Madras called Bamini Bai with her mother arrived in Malgudi. They took shelter in the little cottage in the third street. Soon the old men knew all about her. Now the prank upon Dasi reached to a different level. At the Mantapam, the old Folk informs Dasi that the famous celebrity had arrived in town to marry him. He believed their words.

Dasi starts following her and finally expresses his feelings for her. He tells Bamini ‘ you are my wife’. In return he gets a slap from her and even reach to the police station. Here Mantapam uses their influence and have him release. This event brings lots of change in him. He becomes silent than ever. He stops working. His owner warns him not to go out of house. But on the following day he steps out of the threshold.

The children of the elementary school again tries to crack joke on his condition. A boy comments ‘Oh the bridegroom is still crying; his wife beat him yesterday ‘. On hearing this Dasi becomes aggressive, he lifts the boy and throws him. He breaks benches of the school and starts howling and running after the people. He tries to hurt everyone. The police once again arrives and puts him behind the bar. The very next day he is sent to to the mental hospital. After his few days stay in mental hospital he spends standing in ‘the main gate for hours looking down the road for coming of the bride’

R.K Narayan portrayed Dasi as victim of the society where human feeling are meant for fun. Though retarded but he too had some dreams to be fulfilled. The writer has clearly expressed that wishes, hopes and dreams are not conditional to normal ordinary people. Dasi is shown as that part of the society where they are neglected but are utilized for own benefits. They are kept at home to serve not to be part of family. Mantapam represent the group of intellectual people who thinks people like Dasi should be treated as a subject of joke. The end of the story shows that though Dasi was dragged out of the normal society to mental hospital still hopes that his wife will return. He longs for her.

 Narayan’s mature expression of human feelings ends the story with the word ‘Hope’.